The 2026 NFL Draft continues on Friday evening, with Rounds 2 and 3 starting on Friday evening. Although the South Carolina Gamecocks went two years in a row without a first-round draft pick, cornerback Brandon Cisse and safety Jalon Kilgore are primed to be the first Gamecocks picked for 2026. Â
It was an eventful first round, featuring the Dallas Cowboys trading up to snag safety Caleb Downs and the Philadelphia Eagles trading up to steal receiver Makai Lemon from the Pittsburgh Steelers. By far teh biggest surprise of the night was the Los Angeles Rams selecting quarterback Ty Simpson with the No. 13 overall pick.Â
As the eyes turn to Rounds 2 and 3, here's a look at where the latest mock drafts think Cisse and Kilgore will be selected. We'll use the latest mock drafts from ESPN's Matt Miller, The Athletic's Nick Baumgardner, CBS Sports' Josh Edwards' and Pro Football Focus' Bradley Locker.
CB Brandon Cisse
ESPN has Cisse going the highest, landing with the New York Jets at No. 44 overall. Miller accurately points out that Cisse can serve as a much-needed replacement for Sauce Gardner who is now with the Colts. on Aaron Glenn's defense.Â
The Athletic puts Cisse going one pick later, at No. 45 overall to the Baltimore Ravens. Under defensive coordinator Jesse Minter's scheme, Cisse has the talent and playmaking ability to play right away with the Ravens, which boasts a defense hungry to make a Super Bowl push in 2026.Â
CBS Sports has Cisse going a bit lower, but has a nearby team selecting him in the Carolina Panthers at No. 51 overall. In Carolina, Cisse would join the likes of fellow former Gamecocks in Jaycee Horn and linebacker Bam Martin-Scott. Â
PFF slots Cisse going one spot lower, landing with the Green Bay Packers at No. 52 overall. The Packers recently signed cornerbacks Keisan Nixon and Carrington Valentine to one-year contracts, so Cisse will help fill that void in the future.  Â
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S Jalon Kilgore
CBS Sports has Kilgore projected to go the highest, landing at No. 69 overall to the Tennessee Titans early in the third round. Tennessee is in need of some much-needed depth at the position, and Kilgore will do just that.Â
The Athletic has perhaps a pick Gamecock fans would love the most—him landing at No. 80 overall to the Ravens, reuniting with Cisse in the secondary. How cool would that be for the two former South Carolina stars landing in Minter's defense?Â
ESPN has Kilgore landing with the host team of this year's draft, going No. 85 overall to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Although Kilgore isn't expected to be in Pittsburgh for the festivities, it would be incredibly cool for Steelers fans to cheer big for him getting picked.Â
Kilgore is not included in PFF's mocks for rounds two and three.
Just like we learned last night, anything can happen in the draft, and these are merely just projections. But Friday night appears to be the best shot for the first Gamecocks to be selected in the draft.
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